Get ready to spice up your life and refresh your palate with this new refreshing raw vegan cucumber salad. Skip the leafy greens this time, folks, and save them for a rainy day. This salad is all about the crunchy cucumber, which offers a lovely crisp texture that helps to promote hydration. At its core, this salad is merely a mound of thinly sliced cucumbers, but the dressing is the real star of the show, offering acidic, spicy, and herbaceous notes from the cilantro and mint, which elevate the dish’s aromatic qualities.

The dressing combines tangy apple cider vinegar, a touch of coconut aminos, and a hint of fresh lime juice to create a zesty kick. You cannot forget the red pepper flakes, which bring the spicy kick to the flavor party. Because this dressing includes coconut aminos, you don’t want to use a very flavorful oil. We used avocado oil, as opposed to olive oil, for the neutral flavor. It’s also full of healthy fats! Add all of those things together and you have an incredibly harmonious dressing that effortlessly envelops the crisp cucumber slices with impressive flavor that your taste buds cannot resist.

Last, but certainly not least, garnish the salad with a hefty serving of sesame seeds. If you’re feeling a little daring and crave a little more intensity, add some thinly sliced red onion or chopped green onion to the salad. Spring is the perfect time to enjoy this salad, which is ideal for warmer days. It’s truly a delightful culinary experience that is both nourishing and satisfying.

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With the price of eggs these days, you may not even be thinking about buying some to dye for Easter. Well, we hope that isn’t the case because having a basket full of colorful Easter eggs is a fun arts and crafts activity for the whole family. Easter doesn’t have to be another holiday that promotes overindulgence! You can eliminate a good portion of sugary treats, food dyes, and artificial ingredients this year. 

Why Are Eggs Associated With Easter?

Quite frankly, you may be wondering what eggs have to do with Easter in the first place. No, bunnies do not lay eggs, nor do they deliver them to secret places in your house. Throughout history, people have given each other eggs at spring festivals to celebrate the start of the new season. An egg represents new life and rebirth, and the theory is that this ancient custom made its way into Easter celebrations.

During medieval times, for example, one could not eat eggs during Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. On Easter Sunday, indulging in an egg was a true treat! That was especially true for people who could not afford to buy meat. Historians note that eggs were given to the church on Good Friday as offerings. It was only in the late 1200s that eggs were decorated with colors and gold leaf and given to Edward I’s household. 

Are Naturally-Dyed Eggs Too Extreme?

Eggs, aside from the higher cost this Easter, are not the issue we are concerned with. We take issue with giving children an unlimited supply of plastic eggs filled with candy. Giving kids copious amounts of junk food at Easter and other holidays sets an unhealthy precedent. They do not need to associate holidays with unhealthy foods. There are better ways to develop healthier habits for life!

An occasional indulgence is perfectly fine, and you should not deprive yourself, or the little ones, of those treats. The point we are trying to make is that kids may receive these indulgences a little too often. From birthdays and Valentine’s Day to Easter, Halloween, and beyond, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to indulge in sweets. Celebration does not always have to equate to unhealthy, overly sweet treats. 

How To Dye Easter Eggs Without Synthetic Colors

The color tablets that people use to dye easter eggs contain harmful dyes, which may negatively affect certain children. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently banned certain red food dyes, but synthetic colors are still permitted in food. Nobody eats the colorful shells of Easter eggs, but egg shells are permeable. With food sensitivities on the rise, it’s worth considering natural dyes for coloring eggs. 

DIY Natural Egg Dye Tutorial

Equipment:

• Large pot (for boiling eggs)
• Small pot with lid (one for each color you use)
• Strainer
• Paper towels (or old rags)

Materials:

• 1 cup red onion skins
• 1 cup yellow onion skins
• 2 cups purple cabbage
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups blueberries
• 1/4 cup turmeric
• 2 cups beets, chopped
• 2 cups grape juice
• 2 tablespoons vinegar (per color used)
• White eggs

Instructions:

• For each color you decide to use, you will need one to two cups of plant material for every two cups of water. Use two cups for a deeper, more vibrant color. Because turmeric is dried, you will only need 1/4 cup of water to make the yellow turmeric dye. 
• Add one to two cups of one fruit or vegetable of choice, along with two cups of water, to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer with the lid on for 20-30 minutes.
• You can add the raw eggs and vinegar with simmering fruit/vegetable, but make sure that you reduce the simmer time to 15 minutes, or else you will overcook the eggs. 
• Let the liquid cool to room temperature before straining the fruit/vegetable. Make sure to compost the fruit or vegetable to reduce food waste, but squeeze as much liquid out of the plants as possible before doing so. 
• If you boil the eggs with the dye liquid, remove the eggs from the liquid once cooled. 
• Place un-dyed hard boiled eggs into the natural dye liquid and add two tablespoons of vinegar. Allow them to soak for several hours or overnight in the fridge. 
• Remove eggs from the dye liquid after soaking and pat dry. Rub the shell with a small amount of oil to make them shiny.

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Oh, this salad is oh, so flavorful. It’s got everything you want from a recipe: spice, zest, acid, sweet, tang, and more in every bite. Besides the impressive and refreshing flavors, this salad offers a variety of colors and textures. That makes for a more enjoyable eating experience with the added benefit of getting the various antioxidant compounds from the different-colored ingredients. Don’t let the recipe make you think that this is difficult to make, either. It comes together in a matter of 10-15 minutes and truly showcases the flavor of mango.

Traditionally, Thai mango salad is made with green mango, which is shredded or thinly sliced and mixed with red onion, cilantro, peanuts, fish sauce, and lime juice. The green mango, which is unripe, takes a similar role to green papaya, which is also unripe. Green mangos have a firm, crunchy texture and are quite tart. That’s why they are common in chutneys or pickles. Because green mangos are not as readily available in your average grocery store, we elected to use ripe mangos, which offer a juicy sweetness that complements the kick and punch of the other ingredients. Additionally, we replace the peanuts with raw cashews and, for obvious reasons, we omitted the fish sauce.

We always support culinary creativity at all times. If you feel that you have a cleanse-approved ingredient that would work well with the ones in this salad, feel free to add it in. What we do encourage is that you maintain somewhat uniform cuts for the ingredients. Slice the cucumbers and mangos thinly and on a diagonal so that they can be similar to the thinly sliced onions. Lastly, we only included red pepper flakes, not Thai chilies, because we care about not burning your taste buds off!

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If you are familiar with the content we post, then you know we laugh at the idea of a salad being a simple side dish. We direct the spotlight on the salad, allowing it to take center stage as the main course. You just need to pack it with plenty of cruciferous and colorful vegetables, heart-healthy nuts, savory beans, avocados, berries, and, most importantly, an incredible dressing. 

Make It Colorful

In order to make the perfect salad, you want to include as many nutrient-dense, filling ingredients as possible. If you can make it as colorful as possible, that is a bonus. The reason you want to include colorful foods, such as blueberries, purple cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, or bell peppers, is to diversify your antioxidant intake. This relates back to the concept of “eating the rainbow.” Eating this way not only ensures that you eat a wide range of fruits and vegetables, but also that you eat as many vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients as possible. Continue reading to learn about other tips to make a great post-holiday detox salad. 

Start With The Greens

Greens will form the base of your salad, but you don’t have to be traditional with your choice of leaves. Some people enjoy crispy romaine, while others prefer the diversity of spring mixed greens. Kale makes for an excellent salad base, so long as you remove the thick stems and chop it finely. Arugula is a great choice if you water a peppery base, and shredded Brussels sprouts or cabbage work well as bases for slaws. The point is that green vegetables are some of the healthiest foods on the planet! Some people abide by the phrase, “The more you eat green, the more you get lean.”

Don’t Be Afraid Of Onions

Onions, garlic, and other members of the allium family, exhibit unique flavor profiles. They have a strong bite, but a lot of health benefits come with that intensity. For example, onions exhibit impressive anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties because of their sulfide compounds. The same compounds that make your eyes tear up benefit your health! If you need to tame the intensity of onions, soak them in a little sea salt and lemon/lime juice. You can also crush up fresh garlic to incorporate into your salad dressing. Fun fact: crushing the garlic actually releases the health properties!

Bring Legumes To The Party

Legumes are naturally rich in fiber and protein, two things that help fill you up. When you add them to salads, they add a starchy creaminess that is very hard to replicate. In fact, you keep aiming for black beans, kidney beans, or garbanzo beans bite after bite! Most beans are naturally rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, in addition to resistant starch. Plus, several studies found that they exhibit anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Dress For Success

Before you dig into your big bowl of greens, colorful vegetables and fruits, onions, and legumes, you need a proper dressing. You can go with a simple vinaigrette using olive oil, your favorite vinegar, and sea salt and pepper, or you can blend several ingredients into a dressing. If you prefer creamy dressings, consider blending avocado, cilantro, olive oil, lime juice, cumin, and salt and pepper. Once your dressing is ready to go, drizzle it over your salad, toss to coat all the ingredients, and serve. When ready to eat, you can top with some almonds, walnuts, cashews, or other nuts and seeds of your choice. 

We regularly publish salad recipes on our website. If you need inspiration, you can click here to view all of our salad recipes. It’s a useful resource that can help you if you’re ever in a pinch.

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There are many things to love about Thanksgiving, and overeating is not one of them. It’s safe to say that most people eat enough carbs during the big meal to last them an entire month. Between the stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, pie, and other carbs, the Thanksgiving meal accounts for more than 3,000 calories and nearly 160 grams of fat. Those numbers are based on a full-on binge, and even though it only happens once a year, other factors like sodium and sugar can take a toll on your health. 

You don’t have to overindulge just because it’s Thanksgiving. It’s just so easy to add delicious options to your plate! We get that, but is it worth it to feel bloated and sick? Nutritionists suggest that it is better to choose smaller portions first and then go back for seconds of the foods you enjoyed the most. How exactly do you eyeball the right-size portions, though? Well, we have a little cheat sheet for serving sizes of the most common holiday dishes. Hopefully, this information helps you better navigate how much food you put on your plate. 

Mashed Potatoes

Is the Thanksgiving meal complete without mashed potatoes? Potatoes offer some health benefits, but all the salt, butter, and cream that goes into mashed potatoes renders them unhealthy. Not to mention the fact that people drown them in fattening gravy. Ideally, you will only serve yourself a half-cup of mashed potatoes, which registers 119 calories and 18 grams of carbs. Sticking to a scoop that is roughly the size of a 25-foot tape measure is best for your help. 

Gravy

You can’t have the aforementioned mashed potatoes without gravy, right? Some consider that a sin! People get carried away with gravy, ladling it over the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and even the occasional slice of pie. Nutritionists recommend the serving size for gravy to be no more than one-quarter cup, which is about one-and-one-half shot glasses. Gravy can be very high in sodium, so take it easy with the ladle, especially if you need to keep an eye on your blood pressure. 

Green Bean Casserole

Some people cannot let Thanksgiving happen without green bean casserole, while others don’t care for it at all. Vegetables are not usually the issue at Thanksgiving, but they are when you smother them in mushroom cream sauce and packaged fried onions. An eight-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup is very high in sodium and fat. The average green bean casserole yields about 735 milligrams of sodium and five grams of fat per cup. If you serve this dish at your Thanksgiving, try to keep the portion size to one cup. You can also go a little healthier, foregoing the cream of mushroom soup and fried onions and simply sauté green beans in olive oil with garlic, onions, and lemon juice.

Pie

There is never a shortage of pie at the Thanksgiving table. One could say that there are too many pies available to everyone. Desserts sneak a lot of extra calories, sugars, and carbs. A standard slice of pumpkin pie clocks more than 300 calories, not including whipped cream or cream cheese frosting. A slice of apple pie is very comparable, calorically speaking, but pecan pie is the densest and contains nearly double the calories. For a slice of pumpkin or apple pie, one slice is sufficient (about the size of a kitchen sponge). Cut that serving size in half if you go for pecan pie. 

Stuffing

Stuffing is like the mystery meat of starches, in that recipes vary so much (nutritionally speaking) depending on how you prepare the dish. Some people just use the classic box of stuffing mix and add in some onions, carrots, and celery. Others make their own croutons from whole-wheat bread and incorporate more vegetables, herbs, seasonings, nuts, and homemade vegetable stock. So many stuffings, however, contain tons of butter, bacon, sausage, duck fat, or even lard. This is not a dish that contains a lot of fiber or healthy nutrients. For that reason, nutritionists recommend the serving size be a half-cup.

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Root vegetables have been enjoyed by many cultures for hundreds, even thousands, of years. These vegetables are defined as edible plants that grow underground. Popular root vegetables include turnips, beets, potatoes, carrots, and ginger, among many others. Each vegetable comes with a distinct set of nutrients and health benefits, some of which we’ll explore in this article. Continue reading to learn about some healthy root vegetables to enjoy this fall and winter. 

Radishes

Radishes have a peppery flavor, which comes from the sulfur-containing compounds, isothiocyanates. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the body. Radishes are also rich in vitamin C, which encourages optimal immune function and aids collagen synthesis. Additionally, radishes provide coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), anthocyanins, and phenolic acids, all of which aim to protect the cells in the body. 

Ginger

Ginger is a flowering plant from China and is closely related to turmeric, another root vegetable. It contains gingerol, the primary antioxidant to which researchers attribute many of ginger’s health benefits. One study involved 1,278 pregnant women, and study authors noted that ginger was effective at reducing morning sickness and nausea. Other studies have found ginger to be effective at reducing pain and inflammation. 

Beets

Beets may be one of the most nutritious root vegetables available. They are naturally rich in folate, fiber, manganese, and nitrates, which help dilate blood vessels, potentially lowering blood pressure levels. According to research, consuming beets may help improve exercise performance and increase blood flow to the brain. Take advantage of these benefits by roasting, steaming, juicing, pickling, or boiling these blood red vegetables. 

Rutabaga

This root vegetable is not in your average grocery store. It isn’t the most attractive vegetable, but it does offer lots of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and several B vitamins, including thiamin and niacin. These B vitamins are necessary for energy metabolism, cellular function, and growth. One cup of mashed rutabaga, which can serve as a potato substitute, satisfies nearly 50% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C. 

Carrots

Carrots are packed with provitamin A carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. Beta-carotene colors carrots and is largely responsible for their many health benefits. Carrots also contain vitamin K, vitamin B6, and potassium, which is a mineral necessary for blood pressure regulation. Because of the impressive amount of antioxidants, carrot intake has been linked to numerous health benefits, the primary of which is a reduced risk of multiple cancers, including pancreatic, leukemia, breast, and prostate. 

Onions

It would be hard for many recipes delicious without the addition of onion. They provide integral flavor and offer an impressive nutritional profile to boot. Onions are particularly rich in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Research shows that including onions in you daily diet may significantly reduce blood sugar levels, specifically in people with diabetes. Other research indicates that onions offer potent anticancer properties. Some observational studies note that a higher intake of onions may reduce the risk of common types of cancer.

Purple Potatoes

Unlike yams, which are naturally rich in beta-carotene, purple potatoes contain anthocyanins, which are plant pigments that give the potatoes their signature color and health benefits. Anthocyanins exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to researchers, a diet rich in anthocyanin-rich foods, such as purple potatoes and blueberries, is especially beneficial for heart health. One study found that consuming 200 grams of cooked purple potato per day for two weeks improved arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness increases the risk of heart attack and dementia. Purple potatoes may help enhance arterial health with their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Celeriac

This root vegetable may be the ugliest one on this list, but don’t let the appearance steer you away. Celeriac belongs to the same plant family as parsley and celery and even tastes like celery. It provides lots of vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. Because of its low carbohydrate content, celeriac makes a great lower-carb swap for other potatoes and root vegetables. Additionally, this unique root vegetable offers a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids like apigenin and luteolin, which exhibit cellular-protective properties.

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Get ready to meet your new favorite condiment! Meet the delightfully spicy and incredibly creamy jalapeño cashew cream sauce. Drizzle it over salads as a dressing or replace it with ranch as a dip for carrot and celery sticks. When you finish cleansing, you can pour it over quinoa bowls, smear it on rice cakes, or serve with tacos and chips. You can even use it as a dairy-free substitute for mayonnaise.

This raw vegan jalapeño cream sauce has five core ingredients that create a luscious condiment that is more decadent than you could ever imagine. Don’t worry about the subtle kick from the jalapeño because it won’t overwhelm your palate. The nuttiness and creaminess of the cashews help mellow the heat, as does the bright lemon juice. If you do not have fresh lemons, you can use limes if you have them in the kitchen. Garlic gives an added boost of flavor, just like the onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Season to taste, but try to go easy on the salt. The lemon juice brings a little acidity to the party as well.

If you want to have a little fun with this sauce, feel free to add a few extra ingredients to adapt this sauce for unique flavors. You can omit the jalapeño, or keep it and add any of the following:

• Parsley
• Cilantro
• Curry powder
• Fresh ginger
• Turmeric powder (would go great with ginger)
• Tahini

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This isn’t your ordinary vegetable soup because this soup is made with roasted vegetables, which offer deeper, richer flavors and a subtle smokiness. Once you roast your vegetables, blend them together to make a creamy, addictive soup. Although there are many adjectives that can accurately describe this soup, it is simply delicious. Blending all of the ingredients together helps create a rich, creamy consistency. And the great thing about this soup is that is is great for all culinary skill levels. It is very beginner-friendly!

Why should you roast vegetables instead of steaming or sautéing them? While steaming is a great way to cook vegetables, you miss out on the caramelized flavor and delightful smokiness that comes from roasting them. But not all vegetables roast equally, as some take longer to cook than others. For example, it takes longer to roast tomatoes and bell peppers than it does to roast beets and parsnips. Because this recipe contains bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes, make sure to cut them appropriately to ensure even roasting. It is more important to cut the sweet potatoes and carrots thinly and the rest of the ingredients can be roughly the same size.

This recipe includes various vegetables, but you can make this soup with a few adaptations. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand and incorporate different spices. Do you like a little spice? Throw some cayenne or chili powder into the mix. Consider adding beans for more protein. Opt out of the oat milk if you want a soup made strictly of vegetables. Don’t be afraid to put your own creative spin on this!

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If you didn’t have a reason to fire up the grill, now you do. This grilled vegetable medley is simple to make and exhibits that smoky, charred flavor you want as summer comes to a close. You can turn these grilled veggies into a side dish or make a unique salad. The choice is yours, and we hope that you put your own creative spin on it, as everyone is their own grill master. Just make sure that you don’t burn your veggies to a crisp. You want them to retain some chew and juiciness. Cooking them for too long can dry them out and complete zap them of all their nutrients.

This medley uses red, green, and orange bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini. Feel free to add white button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, or replace the zucchini with yellow squash. You can even slice up some eggplant if you want! Although we seasoned these veggies with the staples (sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder), you can add other herbs that you enjoy. Great herbs to add include rosemary, thyme, oregano, and parsley.

For grilling, we high recommend that you use a grill basket. A grill basket makes it very easy to keep your veggies from falling through the grates. You can also use a skillet-like basket, or a closed basket with lids and handles. That allows you to flip your vegetables. If you do not have a grill, feel free to use a cast iron grill pan and cook the vegetables on the stove. A grill pan will give you the same char marks, just without the open fire char. Both are viable options!

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Sometimes, you stumble upon a salad recipe that you enjoy eating once per week. It is a recipe that you look forward to and crave deep within your bones. There is just something about it! Perhaps it hits the right sweet and salty notes and provides varying textures that create excellent mouth feel. A salad also doesn’t have to be any of those things. Maybe it contains six ingredients and a simple dressing. Is it this salad, perhaps? That’s for you to decide.

Tabbouleh is thought to have originated in the mountains of Syria and Lebanon as far back as the Middle Ages. It is a parsley-based dish that most commonly contains tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, mint, olive oil, salt, pepper, and bulgur wheat. This grain-free tabbouleh salad is non-traditional, but still very similar to the original. It bursts with a bright parsley flavor. Parsley is naturally rich in antioxidants and aids the body with its natural detoxification efforts.

Unlike the traditional recipe, this one contains the addition of bell pepper. It contains red onion, but you can also use shallot if you prefer that flavor, which can be a bit intense for some people. It’s also a no-mix dressing, meaning that you just add all of the ingredients to the bowl and mix. Keep it easy, people! This salad is fresh, citrusy, crunchy, versatile, extremely healthy, easy to make, and incredibly delicious. Enjoy it on its own or as a side dish that accompanies a more filling entree. We hope you love it as much as we do!

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